Slide buckle



w 3, was A. s. ISUSSMAN 3%?542 SLIDE BUCKLE Filed Dec. 7, 1964 6/INVENTOR.

l clal begga Stem (79B SM SSMQH M gent United States Patent 3,267,542SLIDE BUCKLE Adalberto Steinberg Sussman, Via Frassinetti 25,

Milan, Italy Filed Dec. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 416,652

Claims priority, application Italy, Dec. 17, 1963,

7 (Jlaims. (Cl. 24-194) This application is a continuation-in-part ofthe copending application filed on February 1, 1963, now Patent No.3,197,834.

This invention .relates to improvements in buckle structure havingmovable frame for belt in general.

In this copending application a sliding frame buckle has been describedcomprising a movable frame provided with side bars, a first end bar anda second end bar connecting said side bars, a cross bar intermediatesaid end bars and having a lip portion upwardly projecting therefrom,said side bars having their edges in the form of relative guide Ways, aconstrained frame provided with side rods, an end rod near said secondend bar and connecting said side rods and adapted to be fastened to aclothing portion supporting means on the ends of said side rods oppositeto said end rod, a roller member near said first end bar and supportedby said supporting means and extending transverse to said rods, saidmovable frame having a width exceeding the width of said constrainedframe, said relative guideways having lateraly bent wall portionsoutwardly shielding said side rods and surrounding at least a part ofeach thereof and slidably receiving said side rods thereby to allow saidmovable frame to slide with said relative guideways thereof along saidside rods from an end position to another end position thereof, saidcross-bar being arranged intermediate said end rod and said rollermember to leave a first passage for a strap portion between saidcross-bar and said roller member in an intermediate position of saidmovable frame and to clamp said strap portion between said roller memberand said crossbar with said lip portion thereof in an end position ofsaid movable frame when said strap portion is pulled in a directiondirected from said end rod towards said roller member.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improvements incertain parts of the sliding frame, buckle structure claimed in theabove said copending application.

These and still other objects are attained by the buckle structure forbelts according to the present invention, comprising a firstsubstantially rectangular frame, with respect to which there is slidablymounted a second substantially rectangular frame, one of saidsubstantially rectangular frames being provided with a platelikecrossmember and at least a substantially rectangular window forreceiving the corresponding belt portion being provided by one of saidsubstantially rectangular frames, said buckle structure beingcharacterized in that said second frame has a width which is greaterthan the width of said first frame at least in one portion thereof andin that said first frame is provided at one of its ends with an end rimhaving an inclined plane like surface for engagement with thecorresponding belt portion in cooperation with an edge provided by saidplate-like cross-member of said second frame, said first frame beingfurther provided with an end piece with means for positive fasteningthereof onto a belt or the like.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description of preferrednon-limiting embodiments of a buckle structure according to the presentinvention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the buckle according to this invention in a perspectiveview, after assembly;

FIG. 2 shows the same component parts of the buckle in a perspectiveview, before assembly;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of the buckle fixed on a belt;

FIG. 4 shows the stationary or inner frame of the buckle according to amodified embodiment, in a perspective view;

FIG. 5 shows the stationary or inner frame of the buckle according toanother modified embodiment with related fastening hook member, in aperspective view;

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 show a further embodiment of the buckle in perspectiveview in assembled and disassembled conditions, respectively.

Referring now to the above figures, the buckle according to the presentinvention comprises a first substantially quadrangular constrained frame1 made of a single piece, obtained by punching or blanking sheet metal.One end rim of said constrained frame 1 is folded over according to atransverse rim member or rib 2 presenting a substantially inclined planesurface upwardly extending, whilst on the opposite end rim or end rodmember 3 and end portion or end piece 4 is connected to said end rodmember 3 by two leg portions 5. The end portion 4 is provided with adimple 6 which, as will be better seen further, serves as a fasteningmeans for the attachment of the buckle to the belt or the like.

The end rod member 3 and the transverse rim member 2 connect the siderod members 10 and 1d of the frame 1.

The frame 1 is inserted during the assembly stage in a second movableframe 7, made again of a single piece obtained by punching or blankingsheet metal and pre senting a cross bar member 8, defiining two windows9 and 10.

The aforesaid cross bar 8 has side tongues or lips 11 and 12, adapted tobe folded upwardly. The front end rim or end bar member 13 of the frame7 is slightly depressed to ease sliding and assembly, whilst the rearend rim or bar member 14 is raised so as to build a loop portion for thebelt terminal. The remaining two side rims or bar members 15 and 16 ofthe frame 7 have inwardly folded edges so as to form slide guides forthe frame 1.

The side bar members 15 and 16 have front ends 15a and 16a,respectively, connected with the front end bar member 13. The side barmembers 15 and 16 have also rear ends 15b and 1612, respectively,connected with the rear bar member 14.

As clearly illustrated in FIG. 2, the assembling is carried out byplacing first the frame 1 between the guides 15 and 16 of the frame 7and raising then the tongues 11 and 12 of the cross plate 8 in theposition shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

In FIG. 3 there is represented in a longitudinal sec tion the bucklefixed onto a belt 17, on which it is fastened by a rivet 18 which iscaused to pass through the belt and riveted so as to be locked into thedimple 6 of the end portion 4.

In the same FIG. 3 there is also represented by a dotted line a portion19 of the belt.

In FIG. 4 the inner or stationary frame 1a is represented according to amodified embodiment having at the end rim 3a a shaped end portion 4a,obtained by folding downwardly the side portions thereof thereby,obtaining a substantially C-shaped cross-section, whilst the oppositeend rim 2a has a configuration like that of the end rim 2 of the frame1.

In FIG. 5 there is illustrated the inner frame 1b, ac-

cording to another modified embodiment provided at the end rim 3b withan end portion 412 wherein an eye let is formed, whilst the opposite endrim 2]) is shaped like in the previous embodiments.

The eyelet of the end portion 4b is adapted for engagement with a hookmember 20 which is attached to a portion 17b of the belt or the like.

The operation of the buckle is as follows:

After assembling both frames by placing the one into the other, thetongues 11 and 12 of the frame 7 are raised and then the buckle isattached to the belt or the like.

Such attachment is made, as mentioned, by means of a rivet 18 placed inthe female or dimple member 6 by passing through the belt 17 andsubsequently riveted.

Should the frame 1a shown in FIG. 4 be utilized, then the fasteningoccurs by winding or enveloping the end portion 4a directly around thebelt so as to close up on the latter, the edges of said end portionhaving, as mentioned, for the purpose, a substantially C-shaped section,which may be provided with small teeth to anchor in the leather. Suchmodified embodiment is particularly suitable for belts with smallcross-section, for which the rivet drilling might lead to excessiveweakening. The locking of the belt is obtained by the engagement of theportion 19 of the belt (see FIG. 3) with the relief or ridge 2 of theframe 1 in cooperation with the cross bar or plate 8 (and relatedtongues 11 and 12) of the frame 7. In fact, when the belt is about to betensioned, the portion 19 acts on the end rim 13 of the frame 7 so as tocause a sliding of the latter relative to the frame 1 in the unstringingsense. Such portion 19 remains, therefore, clamped between the relief orridge 2 and the cross bar 8, causing the locking of the lacing, whichlocking proves particularly effective also for the special shaping ofthe engaged sections.

It is to be noted that upon the clamping a dual locking effect takesplace due to the fact that the cross bar 3 i.e. the frame 1 is in turndisplaced relative to the frame 7, since, as it is fastened to thesection of the belt fixed on the shoe or the like, there is acounteraction of such section as against the traction exerted by theportion 19 of the belt.

As it can be seen from FIG. 3 the portion 19 of the belt is caused topass also underneath the frame rim 14 acting as loop.

There is further the possibility of making the attachment end portion(4, 4a, 4b) of the buckle slightly flexible by successive hammeringstages in the manufacturing process. Such hammering may be obtained byinserting in the dies some punches which hammer the portion to be madeflexible thus imparting the metal portion a sort of rolling or forgingaction.

The flexibility of the attachment end portion allows to avoid that apossible bending is transmitted from the attachment end portion to theremaining frame portions (1, 1a, 1b) which, having to slide into theframe 7 should remain straight.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 has the loop portion 103integral with the inner or stationary frame 100, which is provided withthe relief end rim portion or ridge 102 similar to those of the otherembodiments, while the movable frame 101 is without such loop portion,but is otherwise similar to the movable frames of the other embodiments.The stationary frame has claws 104 for clamping it on the belt or strapby bonding the claws inwardly. The claws are provided with teeth forthis purpose.

As it can be seen, the buckle according to this invention is of veryeasy application and it can be very quickly and economicallymanufactured by mass production processes.

The invention as specified is susceptible to several changes andmodifications within the scope of the invention.

So for example the application of the buckle can be arranged byproviding a hole in the attachment end portion 4 for the passage of acommon rivet which is subsequently headed. Whatever materials anddimensions could be practically used depending upon requirements.

I claim:

1. A sliding frame buckle structure, comprising a movable frame havingside bar members, each of said side bar members having a front end and arear end, a front end bar member connecting said front ends of said sidebars, a cross-bar member intermediate said front end bar member and saidrear ends of said side bar members and having at least a lip portionupwardly projecting therefrom, said side bar member having their edgesin the form of relative guide ways, a constrained frame having alongitudinal extension and provided with side .rod members, an end rodmember near said rear ends of said side bar members and connecting saidside rod members, an end piece connected with said end rod member andhaving fastening means for fastening said end piece on a clothingportion, a transverse rim member connecting the ends of said side rodmembers distant from said end rod member, said transverse rim memberhaving an upwardly projecting smooth surface, said movable frame havinga width exceeding the width of said constrained frame over the entirelongitudinal extension thereof, said relative guideways having laterallybent wall portions outwardly shielding said side rod members andsurrounding a substantial part of each and slidably receiving said siderod members thereby to allow said movable frame to slide with saidrelative guideways thereof along said side rod members from an endposition to another end position thereof, said cross-bar member beingarranged intermediate said end rod member and said transverse rim memberto leave a first passage for a strap portion between said cross-barmember and said transverse rim member in an intermediate position ofsaid movable frame and to clamp said strap portion between saidtransverse rim member and said cross-bar member with said lip portionthereof in an end position of said movable frame when said strap portionis pulled in a direction directed from said end rod towards saidtransverse rim member.

2. A buckle structure according to claim 1, wherein said end piece has aflexible portion between said end rod member and said fastening means.

3. A buckle structure according to claim 1, wherein said fastening meanscomprise a dimple defining a depression in said end piece for housing arivet head.

4. A buckle structure according to claim 1, wherein said fastening meanscomprise bent walls of said end piece defining a C-shaped cross sectionthereof to be clamped on a clothing portion.

5. A buckle structure according to claim 1, wherein said fastening meanscomprise an eyelet in said end piece and a hook member fixed on theclothing portion.

5 6. A buckle structure according to claim 1, wherein said fasteningmeans are claw members and wherein said 577 089 end piece has a loopportion integral therewith. 6 7. A buckle structure according to claim1, wherein 925766 said smooth surface has an inclined plane portionfacing 5 said lip portion. ggggg References Cited by the Examiner UNITEDSTATES PATENTS White 24l94 Holtz et a1. 24163 X FOREIGN PATENTS WILLIAMFELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

cross 24 163 10 DONLEY I. STOCKING, Examiner.

E. SIMONSEN. Assistant Examiner.

1. A SLIDING FRAME BUCKLE STRUCTURE, COMPRISING A MOVABLE FRAME HAVINGSIDE BAR MEMBERS, EACH OF SAID SIDE BAR MEMBERS HAVING A FRONT END AND AREAR END, A FRONT END BAR MEMBER CONNECTING SAID FRONT ENDS OF SAID SIDEBARS, A CROSS-BAR MEMBER INTERMEDIATE SAID FRONT END BAR MEMBER AND SAIDREAR ENDS OF SAID SIDE BAR MEMBERS AND HAVING AT LEAST A LIP PORTIONUPWARDLY PROJECTING THEREFROM, SAID SIDE BAR MEMBERS HAVING THEIR EDGESIN THE FORM OF RELATIVE GUIDE WAYS, A CONSTRAINED FRAME HAVING ALONGITUDINAL EXTENSION AND PROVIDED WITH SIDE ROD MEMBERS, AN END RODMEMBER NEAR SAID REAR ENDS OF SAID SIDE BAR MEMBERS AND CONNECTING SAIDSIDE ROD MEMBERS, AN END PIECE CONNECTED WITH SAID END ROD MEMBER ANDHAVING FASTENING MEANS FOR FASTENING SAID END PIECE ON A CLOTHINGPORTION, A TRAVERSE RIM MEMBER CONNECTING THE ENDS OF SAID SIDE RODMEMBERS DISTANT FROM SAID END ROD MEMBER, SAID TRANSVERSE RIM MEMBERHAVING AN UPWARDLY PROJECTING SMOOTH SURFACE, SAID MOVABLE FRAME HAVINGA WIDTH EXCEEDING THE WIDTH OF SAID CONSTRAINED FRAME OVER THE ENTIRELONGITUDINAL EXTENSION THEREOF, SAID RELATIVE GUIDEWAYS HAVING LATERALLYBENT WALL PORTIONS OUTWARDLY SHIELDING SAID SIDE ROD MEMBERS ANDSURROUNDING A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF EACH AND SLIDABLY RECEIVING SAID SIDEROD MEMBERS THEREBY TO ALLOW SAID MOVABLE FRAME TO SLIDE WITH SAIDRELATIVE GUIDEWAYS THEREOF ALONG SAID SIDE ROD MEMBERS FROM AN ENDPOSITION TO ANOTHER END POSITION THEREOF, SAID CROSS-BAR MENBER BEINGARRANGED INTERMEDIATE SAID END ROD MEMBER AND SAID TRANSVERSE RIM MEMBERTO LEAVE A FIRST PASSAGE FOR STRAP PORTION BETWEEN SAID CROSS-BAR MEMBERAND SAID TRANSVERSE RIM MEMBER IN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION OF SAIDMOVABLE FRAME AND TO CLAMP SAID STRAP PORTION BETWEEN SAID TRANSVERSERIM MEMBER AND SAID CROSS-BAR MEMBER WITH SAID LIP PORTION THEREOF IN ANEND POSITION OF SAID MOVABLE FRAME WHEN SAID STRAP PORTION IS PULLED INA DIRECTION DIRECTED FROM SAID END ROD TOWARDS SAID TRANSVERSE RIMMEMBER.